Places To Visit In Kandy

27 km
from city center 1 out of 16
places to visit in Kandy

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage was launched to provide shelter and nourishment to abandoned, injured and maimed elephants. The ideology behind this project revolves around the care of abandoned baby elephants, who cannot survive without their mothers.

10 km
from city center 2 out of 16
places to visit in Kandy

Sri Lanka and its tea plantations go hand in hand. In the central province of Sri Lanka stands Giragama Tea Plantation, a quaint village known for tea cultivation. Giragama was one of the first few plantations near Kandy, the heart of Sri Lanka.

1 km
from city center 3 out of 16
places to visit in Kandy

Sri Dalada Maligawa is the Sinhalese name for this holy shrine. Famously called Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, it is touted to be the most sacred Buddhist temple in the whole world. It houses the tooth of Buddha nestled in a golden chamber and is within the premises of the royal palace complex (formerly a princely state). Kandy is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is said that whichever state holds the tooth relic, maintains an essential place in the governance of the country.  

1 km
from city center 4 out of 16
places to visit in Kandy

Sri Maha Bodhi Viharaya or Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha is a Theravada Buddhist temple atop a hill in Kandy. True to its name “Big Buddha” is known for being a powerful and giant Buddha statue that overlooks the princely state of Kandy. It shows Buddha taking the Dhyana Mudra position, which was how he attained enlightenment. A trip to the Big Buddha serves as a pilgrimage, adventure and overall soul-searching experience. 

5 km
from city center 5 out of 16
places to visit in Kandy

he most prominent gardens in Sri Lanka, Royal Botanical Gardens are situated 5 km west of Kandy. Colourful orchids, pleasant winds, tall trees. and proximity with the Mahaweli river is a beautiful “flora and aqua” treat for the eyes. The gardens are home to more than 4000 species of plants, including orchids, spices, medicinal plants and palm trees. It is a 147 acre - natural elegance holding landscaped gardens and scenic beauty, making it a photographers dream.

4 km
from city center 6 out of 16
places to visit in Kandy

Known as the spice island, Sri Lanka has three famous spice gardens – Ranweli spice gardens in Kandy and Arunalu spice gardens in Matale and the New Ranweli Spice gardens in Kandy. The renowned spice gardens of Kandy and their exuberant quality lies in the fact that they are produced through organic farming and have received a fair trade certification.

1 km
from city center 7 out of 16
places to visit in Kandy

The International Buddhist Museum or World Buddhist Museum is the first of its kind in the world and is in the cultural and administrative capital of Sri Lanka Kandy. It is nestled in the complex that once served as the King’s residence along with the National Museum and Temple of the Tooth, hence its structure exhibits royalty, grandeur and elegance at its best. It compiles Buddhism, the extensive history of its teachings and depth of knowledge through scrolls, artefacts and souvenirs from all over the world. 

1 km
from city center 8 out of 16
places to visit in Kandy

The sea of Milk or Kiri Muhuda as it is dearly called by the people is an artificial lake bordering the Royal Palace and Royal Gardens. The lake corresponds to the monastery, royalty and overall culture and beliefs of the people; it has elements of historical importance associated with it as it. Boat rides on the lake is a fun way to spend an evening here. There are local boat operators who offer tours of Kandy Lake and thereby a view of the royal city and its natural scenic beauty.

0 km
from city center 9 out of 16
places to visit in Kandy

Visiting Sri Lanka's second largest city, Kandy and not exploring Kandy viewpoint will be a major miss. Located 1.7 KM from the main Kandy city, Kandy view point is regarded as the highest point in the city from where one can appreciate Kandy lake as if just below their feet and also the Dalada Maligawa Temple.

0 km
from city center 10 out of 16
places to visit in Kandy

Mountains have the power to uplift your spirits; a reason why mountains are the most sought after destinations for all kinds of tourists. One such spot in the heart of the island country, Sri Lanka is Hanthana mountain range. The spectacular view that you get of the entire Kandy city from Hanthana mountain range will keep you awestruck for your entire journey.

0 km
from city center 11 out of 16
places to visit in Kandy

Kandy’s legacy and heritage remains incomplete without getting a glimpse of the Royal Palace of Kandy, situated in the north to the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Before British Colonialism overtook the Kandyan Kingdom, this was the last royal structure built in the heart of Kandy city by Vikramabahu III in the 14th century.

84 km
from city center 12 out of 16
places to visit in Kandy

The famous Lankatilaka temple of the Gampola period, attached with a rich history and incredible architecture, portrays the essence of Sri Lanka from the 14th century during the Gampola reign. It is located in Kandy near the Gadaladeniya Vihara Buddhist temple. The Lankatilaka temple was built on Panhalgala rock, a natural rock and has three sections - the Temple building (which has the Buddha Image house in the east and Temples of God in the west), the Stupa and the Bo tree. Various rock inscriptions in sinhalese and tamil can be found defining the history of the land and the temple.

0 km
from city center 13 out of 16
places to visit in Kandy

Sri Lankan history and heritage, which has come a long way over the decades, is rightly preserved in the National Museum in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Formerly known as Palle Vahala, the museum earlier used to serve as accommodation for royal guests.

0 km
from city center 14 out of 16
places to visit in Kandy

Among the many names given to this island country like Lanka, Lakdiva, Serendib, Sri Lanka was also named Ceylon - during British Colonialism - reminding us of the famous Ceylon tea that origins in Sri Lanka. Situated at Hantana, 3 KM away from main Kandy city, Ceylon Tea Museum was structured in 1925 as the former Hantana Tea factory. Later in 1998, this tea factory was converted into the famous Ceylon Tea Museum.

0 km
from city center 15 out of 16
places to visit in Kandy

Maduru Oya National Park is home to the two main aspects of Sri Lanka’s tourism—plenty of diverse wildlife and fascinating Buddhist ruins. The park was established in 1983 and also shelters some members of the indigenous Vedda tribe. With a population numbering more than a hundred, Asian elephants are the best feature of this national park. Maduru Oya National Park is a serene location in the most real sense of the word—often, you might be the only tourists around, making it seem like a private tour of the country’s spectacular landscape and wildlife.

0 km
from city center 16 out of 16
places to visit in Kandy

Knuckles Mountain range is an unusual terrestrial landform located in Matale and Kandy, in Central Province, Sri Lanka. The name was given by the British, and the locals call this range 'Dumbara Kanduvetiya', which means mist-laden mountains. Knuckles Mountain Range is called so because of its uncanny resemblance to the fingers of a clenched fist. The range is a World Heritage Conservation Area and is relatively untouched. The range features 34 peaks, ranging between 900 metres to 2000 metres. Five of these mountain peaks make the formation of a clenched fist.